Collapsible boat.



G. DUBOIS.

GOLLAPSIBLB BOAT.

APPLIOATION FILED SBF120, 1913.

HH. NIMH/S PETERS Ca PHO/r1 Mino WASHING/0N. n t? 'Uni TE GEORGE DUBOIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COLLAPSIBLE BOAT.

T0 all Iwhom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE Dunois, a s ubject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Collapsible Boats, of which the following is a specification.

The essential object of this invention is to provide a boat having `a collapsible framework of a type which permits setting `up very quickly, and which, when once set up, will remain in set-up position as rigidly to all intents and purposes as if the saine were permanently fastened together.

In the drawings, Figure 1 isa top plan view of the framework; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 8 3, Fig. 2, showing the framework in set-iip position; Fig. l is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the framework when collapsed; Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the devices for keeping'the framework set up; and Fig. 6 is a view of the construction at the bottom of each rib.

An oval frame 1, which is shaped according to the shape which it is desired to give to the top of the boat, is provided with upwardly-extending ears or lugs 2, which. ears 2 are perforated so as to permit reception of the bolts 3. r1`he number of ears 2 may be varied according to circumstances, but in the drawings the boat is depicted as having one at the stern, one at the bow, and two upon each side of the boat.

The bottom 4 may be made out of any j suitable material and of any desired shape, though saine must conform to the shape of the frame 1. In the drawings, the bottom 4f is depicted as being a sheet metal plate slightly curved so as not to provide a perfectly flat bottom. When the flanged edge 5 of the bottom 4 is secured by bolts 6 to the bottom or bent bar 7 which extends completely around the boat serving as a reinforcement and protection, the bolts 6 are secured .in place by nuts S.

, Specification of Iietters Patent.

Application filed September 20, 1913.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914. sei-iai No. 790,8251

is employed only as a matter of convenience and any other device for providing teeth l0, 12, and 15 will su'llice.

The bifurcated lugs 16 are pivoted to the respective ears 2 by the bolts 3, and depending from each bifurcated lug 16 is a rib 17,`

which ribs are depicted in the drawings as beingT-beains. l As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, said ribs 17 are slotted at their lower ends, and on each side of each slot 18 are provided with a projecting linger 19, which lingers 19 reach beneath the under edge of the top rail of the I-beam 9, and thus the projecting 1in`gers19 keep the ribs 17 at all times secured to the Lbeams. Those ribs 17 which are at the bow and stern are constructed similarly to the side ribs which cooperate with tlie cross-beams 9, and are secured to the beams 11 and 11 in the saine manner as the side ribs are secured to the cross-beams 9.

Assuming that the boat is 4t, and the side ribs 17 will have their lower or inner ends in the position depicted in said Fig. Ll. If the person who desires to use the boat thereupon grasps the oval frame 1 and lifts same upwardly while the bottom 4 still remains upon the ground or in the water and carries the oval frame 1 from the position of Fig. 4; to that of Figs. 2 or 3, the respective ribs 17 will ride upon the beams 9, 11, or 14k which the ribs respectively engage, and the tooth 20 which is atthe bottom of the main body portion of each rib 17 and which is above the slot 18 will seat in the corresponding ratchet 10, 12, or 15, and thus the frame 1 will be locked in elevated position and the boat set up. To permit collapsing the boat it is necessary to release the teeth 2O from the ratchets which they respectively engage, thus permitting the lower ends of the ribs 17 to slide inwardly upon the Lbeains and toward the center of the boat; but merely to lift the oval frame 1 upwardly will cause the ribs 17 to ride along the I-beams until the ribs 17 are locked by the teeth or ribs at the outer edges of said beams. Links 21 may be pivoted to the ribs 17, each of which links 21 has a hook-like end 22 adapted to be received in collapsed condition, the parts will assume the posil tions respectively indicated for them in Fig.

within a perforation 23 in the I-beani, which links, therefore, serve to lock the framework in set-up position and prevent an unexpected or premature collapse of the boat and bar 4- at the bottom and to the oval frame l at the top. The other part 26 of the outer casingis held to the bar if by nuts 8 and is secured, also, to the oval frame l.

ilv plate 27, retained in place by bolts 2S,l

grasps the upper.: edges of the fabric members 25 and 26 and clamps same to the oval frame, thus preventing tearing of the fabric. Between the two fabric members 25 and 26 is an inner tube 30 which can be inflated by a suitable pump, the oval frame l being perforated at 3l to permit such inflation.

l claim as my invention:

l. 'Acollapsibleboatv comprising a bottom, an upper frame, -ribs in pivotal connection with one of said members, toothed I- beams in connection With the other of said members, the ends of said ribs opposite said,

pivotal connections being adapted to ride upon said l-beams, said ribs being slotted to receive the cuter flanges of saldi-beams, and

init/,st I

a linger upon each rib adapted to engage the under or inner side of the flange of the l-beam engaged byA said rib.

2. The combination With a bottom of a frame movable With respect thereto, lugs formed on said frame, ribs .pivoted to said lugs and slotted at their free terminals, longitudinal and transverse beams arranged in the bottom of the boat and spanned by the slotted terminals of the ribs aforesaid, and 40 said ribs `for retainingA the same in their adj usted positions.

In testimony whereof I hereunto my signature inthe presence of two Witnesses.

GERGE DUBOlS.

Vilitnesses.:

Ron'r. KLoTZ, Y CHARLES Trnsnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. i 

